Turdus Oculo radiato: The Pudding-Wife.
These Fish are sometimes 16 Inches long, tho' generally of a smaller
Size; the Eye red, from the Circumferance of which are spread seven
blue Rays; At the End of each Mandible are three large Teeth with
the ordinary Rows of smaller Teeth; the upper Mandible is loose
and can be contracted upon Occasion under the adjoyning bony-part
of the Head, in like Manner as in the Hogfish. The Body of the Fish
was covered with large Scales of a brownish Olive Colour, having
the Edge of every Scale blue; the Gills are also marked with five
or six irregular Lines of blue, almost the whole Length. On the
Back was extended a long yellow Finn, bordered with a blue indented
Line; To the hind part of the Belly was fixed another suchlike yellow
Finn bordered also with a blue indented Line, and another small
yellow Finn under the Abdomen verged in the forepart with blue;
besides two behind the Gills of a dirty Colour: From one of these
Fins extends obliquely round the Belly to the other a broad Lift
with four Lines of blue and yellow alternately. The Tail spreads
widest at the End, half next the Body of a dusky dark Colour; the
End of a reddish yellow:
Alburnus Americanus: The Carolina Whiting.
This Figure shews the general Size of these Fish: The Iris of
the Eye yellow; the whole Fish of a light brown Colour; the belly
lightest, the Gills having a faint Tincture of red; the Mouth wide,
with very small Teeth; the upper Jaw reaches beyond the lower, the
under Lip having five or six fleshy Barbles, resembling Teeth hanging
to on the out Side. It had one small Finn on the Middle of the Back;
two behind the Gills, one under the Abdomen, and another behind
the Anus; the Tail unequally notched, the lower-part extending beyond
the upper. The Market at Charleston in Carolina is
plentifully supplyed with these Fish, and are accounted tolerable
good Meat.
12

|
|